THOMPSON – Anyone questioning whether or not Rowan Pennink was ready to return to competition after offseason back surgery got their answer quite definitively Saturday at Thompson Speedway.

In his first event back since surgery in January, Pennink rolled to victory in the 50-lap Valenti Modified Racing feature Saturday at the Icebreaker at Thompson Speedway.

“I feel real good,” Pennink said. “Nothing more than I’ve been dealing with, normal stuff. I felt really good in the racecar. Today was my first day back in a car. I guess it went pretty well. … I was just hoping I’d be comfortable in the racecar and I was comfortable. It was good to get back behind the wheel and start it off like this.”

Chase Dowling of Roxbury was second and Anthony Nocella of Woburn, Mass. third.

Pennink had surgery on January 31, which forced him to miss the first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour event on March 17 at Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Speedway.

“I had two herniated discs in my back that were pushing into my spinal cord,” Pennink said. “When they looked at the MRI they said you need surgery immediately or it could be some permanent things that could happen which weren’t good. So I got surgery the next day and had to pretty much do nothing for like six weeks and then I could slowly start back doing stuff here and there. But I’m feeling pretty good.”

Pennink went by Richard Savary for the lead on lap 19 and never trailed again. He held on through two late restarts with under six laps remaining.

“The thing was unbelievable on the restarts,” Pennink said. “I just made sure I got a good one every time and I was able to walk away at the end.”

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Comments

I hear adrenaline is great for the healing process.
Looks like Mr Todd Owen practicing the car last week paid some pretty hefty dividends. He’s an OK driver but a massively under rated chassis guy and that will change in the not to distant future.
Dowling, Pennink, Rocco, Williams and more in the Stafford SK’s. It’s all coming together to be a killer season at Stafford. A taste of the NWMT we love so much every Friday night.